Coffee or Tea? Which Will it Be?
As newly-weds, my husband and I lived in Bogota, Colombia for two years, a country renowned for its great coffee. I hadn’t acquired a taste for coffee yet,…
A Lesson From The Trees
Every fall, when the green trees of summer turn into barren branches, I always think of my sister, Bonnie, who passed away in November, some years ago. The…
The Very Best Christmas Gifts
Do you remember the sweet wonder of Christmas when you were a child? The tree with all its trimmings, Grandma’s cookies, the familiar carols—and Christmas presents! I remember…
The Joy of The Torah
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law . . . Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my…
A Time To Speak
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven … a time to be silent and a time to speak” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7…
Greetings From Germany!
Greetings from beautiful Germany! I’m writing this month’s blog while Ken and I are on a book tour with my German publisher, Francke. The German translation of my…
Offering Hope
I’m often asked why I write novels. The short answer is, “because I want to offer readers hope.” I’ve always loved to read, but the theme of so…
Have a Memorable Vacation–Maybe?
“Tell us about a memorable summer vacation.” At a luncheon with my publishing company, recently, the sales team and I were asked to do just that. I heard…
Welcome to the Family
The frigid January day was a memorable one for our family. With the final “bang” of the judge’s gavel, our son Joshua became Aiden’s father. My husband and…
Immanuel
I spoke at a Christmas luncheon recently with a “White Christmas” theme, and since we were supposed to dress from the era, I borrowed a friend’s vintage mink…
Long Way Home
This is my dad, who joined the Navy at age 18 and fought in the Pacific during WWII. That seems like such a young age to experience the…
Can an Old Dog Learn New Tricks?
My two little granddaughters were here for a visit recently, and I couldn’t help noticing how very different the two of them are. Three-year-old Ayla is not afraid…
A 1951 Christmas
Good news! Only 58 days until Christmas! And if you’re looking for books to give as gifts or to get you in the holiday spirit, my first-ever Christmas…
Researching?
If you’re going to write historical fiction, it helps to enjoy doing research, which I really do! This past weekend, I set out on a fun weekend with…
Lost!
The fall weather was beautiful last week and perfect for riding bikes. I took a break from writing one afternoon, and Ken and I rode off on one…
Setting the Setting
Have you ever been in a place where you didn’t want to be? Or how about being in a place that you loved, and that quickly became your…
A Visit to the Past
Ken and I love to ride our bikes to the library in town whenever I need more research material, and then eat lunch at a fun restaurant. It’s…
First Book
Do you remember the first book you ever read? Not a book that someone else read to you—I heard hundreds of books read to me by my mom,…
Summer Memories
For the past week, our new ten-year-old grandson, Aiden, stayed with us while his parents were away on their honeymoon. He came into our life after our son…
The Next Book
I’m in between novels at the moment, and searching for inspiration. After writing 29 books, I sometimes feel like I’ve used every storyline, every setting, and every plot…
My 4th of July Favorites
I’ve been reminiscing this Fourth of July about all the things I love most about this holiday. I have to say that at the top of my list…
Summer Reading Program
When I was a girl, our village library offered a summer reading program. We were each given a chart with colorful stickers to keep track of all the…
Eating Tulips
Have you ever eaten tulip bulbs? I haven’t, and I’m guessing not many of you have, either. Unless you lived in the Netherlands during World War II, that…
Together Again
I came across these wonderful black and white photographs while researching my newest novel, “Chasing Shadows,” which takes place in the Netherlands during WWII. The pictures clearly show…
Teamwork
The excitement is building. My newest novel, “Chasing Shadows,” will be releasing in just a few weeks. I would love to travel around the country to make the…
A Day of Filming
We’re getting closer! My newest novel, “Chasing Shadows,” will be released in just two more months, on June 8. So, a few days ago, my publisher, Tyndale House,…
Bikes and More Bikes!
If you’ve read my blogs before, you’ll know that I’m an avid bicyclist. That’s why I’m thrilled with the cover of my newest book, “Chasing Shadows,” which releases…
A Milestone
I reached a milestone last week. As you can see from my odometer, I have now biked 1,000 miles on my new bicycle. Ken and I purchased the…
Fact, Fiction, and a D-I-Y Life
by Jane Rubietta My husband stood beside me, our fingers clutching the frozen fencing. The unexpected ice storm shut down many roads in Tennessee, but we slid up…
Piecing Life Together With Slow Stitching
by Cleo Lampos My mom seldom had empty hands. When she finished pressing dough into loaves, feeding the chickens, or ironing heavy cotton, her fingers picked up scraps…
Companions for the Journey
A long time ago, before I had published a single word, a writer friend invited me to join a Christian writers’ group. Of course, I declined. I was…
Up In A Tree
I’m nearing the end of the novel I’m currently writing, and as I keep telling my husband, “I have to bring this story in for a landing.” My…
Courageous Heroines
My two-year-old granddaughter is very active, and often fearless. My daughter sent me a video the other day of her attempting to climb the cat tree in their…
A Sneak Peek . . .
One of the most exciting moments for me as an author is when I first get to see the cover design for my newest novel. There have been…
Time For Tulips
There’s a lot of excitement in my hometown of Holland, Michigan these days. While winter and spring continue to arm-wrestle with each other, bringing seventy-degree temperatures one day…